PITTSBURGH (KDKA 93-7 The Fan) – The Penguins are in the stretch drive of the regular season.

The club clinched their eighth straight playoff berth with a win Friday night in Columbus. But former Penguin Rick Tocchet told KDKA’s Bob Pompeani that the team needs to be focused on playing well entering the playoffs.

“The regular season really doesn’t matter for the Penguins,” Tocchet said. “Is their system in check? Is their best players playing the best? Is their role players doing their job? Usually the teams that are playing well before the playoffs continue as history says into the playoffs. They’ve got to get their act together.”

Beau Bennett returned to the lineup for the first time in several months against Columbus after recovering from a wrist injury. Tocchet would like to see Bennett on Sidney Crosby’s line for a few games.

“I’m a big believer in a right side shot with your best player, and I’d like to see Bennett on that line with [Chris] Kunitz and give him three, four games here before the playoffs and see if he’s the real deal, if he can handle that job,” Tocchet said.

Rick Tocchet

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A sports anchor for KDKA-TV News at Six and KDKA-TV News at Eleven, Bob Pompeani began his career at KDKA-TV in 1982, but his experience with hometown sports goes beyond the 33-years he’s worked at KDKA.
Growing up in an area...